WELCOME TO OUR HOME....KIND OF

I was trying to blog everyday, but I just wasn't able to meet my goals last week.  To be honest, I wasn't very inspired and I had been a little stressed out.  The weekend helped bring me out of the slump, especially Sunday.  Saturday we did this:

Our neighborhood had their first annual Crawfish Festival at our Park Square.  It was really fun to get together with friends, eat great food (although technically, I don't eat anything that lives in water, nor did I actually eat anything that afternoon, but there was great food available) and throw back a few cold ones.  The YMCA had stations set up with kid games, including face painting, and the water fountains were going, which is a favorite of Hagan's this year.  Great time to just let kids be kids and have a relaxing day.  On Sunday we did this:

It was a beautiful beach day at Fort DeSoto, FL.  Hana and her friend went with us, but Hagan and I had such an awesome day together (while the girls ignored us and scoped out the area for BOYS).  That day was just what I needed!

This morning I decided that I needed something to hang above our front door.  The empty space has been nagging at me for awhile now.  I found some old vinyl that I bought over two years ago and decided it would look great on a yard sale frame.

I chose the one in the middle, "Beach Club."  I took it out of the frame, flipped it over and glued scrapbook paper directly to it.  (It's not like I can't just remove the vinyl and flip it back over later if I decide I need a party picture!)

Then I just added my "Welcome" vinyl to the glass.  Easy peasy!

Next I hung it above our front door and it looks really GOOD there!  Although.......

Should people really be viewing the welcome sign as they are walking OUT the door?!?!?!? 


See you tomorrow!
Libby :)

VICTORY OVER THE SIGN!

WHEW!  I really thought this sign was going to get the best of me.  Well, to be truthful, it kicked my ass while trying to hang it...more on that later.  But, nevertheless, I was able to salvage my hard work and save the sign.  It was really headed to the curb, but I thought, I'll just spray paint over the whole thing and paint in the letters.  I spray painted over it, added some brown to tone down the blue and then tried to paint the letters.  No bueno.  I got frustrated and started wiping the paint...what do you know?!  The letters started to come off, so I went with that..I mean really, if the sign is giving you a "sign," go with it, right?  It took me a long time to get most of the letters off, but I was liking it and if some still stuck, then it's just shabbier.  FINALLY!

Went from this:

To this:

So much better, huh???  I thought so too.

I was ready to change up the master bedroom and put on my new duvet and shams.  OR, as my husband called them, "bed covers and shamwows."  Yeah, he thinks he's funny.  I didn't make many changes to the room.  We have THE smallest master bedroom EVER.

The before:

Since we are renters, and we have one of the ugliest bathrooms (with 80's gold fixtures too...and don't ask me how THAT happened...this house was built in the early 2000's), I don't want to paint our room because I know what I pick would never match the bathroom.  We do not have a door to close off the bathroom either, it's all open (yuck and boo).  BTW....yes, I'm aware that on one window I have white curtains and on the other is burnt orange....I have no explanation. 
 
Here are my after pics:

 Hanging the sign...it almost killed me.  I had hands covered in super glue and one of my thumbs was bleeding...I finally said *&%$ it and nailed it straight to the wall.  It worked.  I won.  Boo-yah!  In your FACE sign! 

I think I may have to find something better above the bed.  I like the sign, I'll keep the sign, but it seems like a little bit of a downgrade to me from my previous art.  I'll have to think about that some more.....Overall, I love the colors all together and they really aren't that different from what I had going on in there before except there is the addition of blue to the greens and dark orange. 

I'm linking up to these parties:
The Shabby Chic Cottage
Paisley Passions
Yesterday On Tuesday
A Glimpse Inside
Somewhat Simple
House of Hepworths

Thanks for looking and what do you think?????!!!!!????

Libby :)

CURRENTLY THE BANE OF MY EXSITENCE

CRAFT FAIL ALERT!!!!!  I finally received my Mother's Day present that my husband bought for me and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, but my current art hanging above our bed doesn't match or even "go with" the new duvet.  After browsing Pinterest, (I finally got an invite!) I found inspiration from this pillow found at French Knot

I love it and thought I would put that saying on a large sign to hang above our bed.  I found the perfect board from my Ikea stash and picked some colors that are in the bedding....

 It took me a good 45 minutes to cut out these letters.  Looks good so far, right?

Then, I proceeded to glue the letters down and then stared at it for a few hours.  The white letters looked stark and like I had cut them out of paper (DUH.)  So.....I then really RUINED it.  First, I added a dark purple/brown...gross.  Then tried brown...still gross.  Now I'm sitting staring at it.  I'm pretty sure this one is going bye-bye, Trash Town, USA.

I'm still going to use the saying and I will it hang above our bed.  That is my goal today!  Wish me luck!!!!

Have a great Wednesday!
Libby :)

A FRAME FOR MY KAYDIE BUG....AND ONE FOR MY HANA BANANA

I made a little frame for my new granddaughter, Kayden.  I think my kiddos are getting a little jealous of everything I am making and buying for her, but it's so FUN to have a baby in the family!  I still consider Hagan my baby boy, but after holding a newborn, I realized just how big he is!  Sad!  At least he still likes to snuggle-buggie, so all is right in my world! 

I started out with a frame from Wal-Mart, it was less than $3, some paint I had on hand and some cute graphics I printed off of Google images.  I searched "funky trees" images and these owls popped up with them.  Too cute!

I thought I was finished, then I decided it needed something more, so I added the outline around Kayden and the polka dots.  I really love this frame and I hope my daughter does too!

I finished up a frame for Hana too...finally.  I painted this way back in March and yeah, I'm lame because I just hot glued the ribbons on today.  I bought this frame at a Goodwill for $3.06 (what is it with the 6 cents?)  We are going to make-over her bedroom this summer and she's going with plum and light gray, so I'm hoping this will match.  I'm in love with this color!  It is Krylon Rich Plum.  Before:

(When I remembered to take the picture :))  And AFTER:

Thanks for stopping by and I'm linking up to these parties:
A Little Tipsy
The Tattered Tag
Making the World Cuter
Polly Want A Crafter?
The DIY Home Sweet Home Project

Have a great Monday!

Libby :)

JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON

Ok..I am POSITIVE this has been done before.  I do not claim to have come up with this idea AT ALL.  Actually, I'm pretty sure I WOULDN'T have thought of it on my own, however; I cannot for the life of me remember where I saw this first.  I know I have seen it several different places, but ever since I got back from Kansas, I have been in blog heaven and every craft has run together. 

During our neighborhood yard sale, that I talked about here, I picked up a little frame for 50 cents.  Actually, when I just went back to that post, I couldn't remember where I saw it then either.  That makes me laugh for some reason.  Oh well, you can read my other excuses on that post.......

This is what I started with:  (will try to upload the picture tomorrow.  I should be more careful of what is in the background when I start taking pictures, hahahah)

*************UPDATE************  I can't figure out for the life of me where our Photoshop has gone...Probably due to the virus we had the other day, bummer.  I can't post the pic of my before materials, but I have the utmost confidence that you can picture them through my description below!  By the way, the candle stick was one of those brass ones...

That is a candle stick from Goodwill ($1.06).  Weird, right?  I mean, they couldn't just make it a buck?  The wood pieces are from Michael's and I just bought the paint at Wal-Mart for another project.   I added two coats of spray paint, distressed all the pieces, rub some walnut colored paint over everything and glued it all together.  Oh. Em. Gee.  First time I have used E6000 in a long time.  Eyes still burning from the smell. 

This is her all finished.  I added some scrapbook paper in the frame.  I will probably add a letter or small key eventually.  I really love her.  She's cute.  I wasn't too crazy about the color until I added the walnut over the top.  It toned it down quite a bit, much better.  I'm really, really, really hoping that it will match the new bedding my hubster bought me for Mother's Day :) 

After taking the kiddos to eat at the Cheesecake Factory (love the thai lettuce wraps, if anyone has a good recipe for those, please pass it on to me!) we went to the Dollar Tree.  If you are having a luau anytime soon, you should go there and stock up.  Really cute stuff!  Anyway, I found these:

Little totes with dividers.  Not gorgeous, but cute, and perfect to hold my craft paint.  Now, if I could just get organized.....

Where I'm taking this project to party:
Hazel and Honeysuckle
I {Heart} Naptime
The Tattered Tag
Making the World Cuter
Polly Want A Crafter
The DIY Home Sweet Home Project

Have a wonderful night,
Libby :)

STRAIGHT FROM EASTER TO SUMMER....no "Spring" time here. BOO.

Before I begin my REAL post, a quick story....My son likes costumes and dressing up.  And after having three daughters all close in age, I learned that they are only little once and if they want to wear costumes for clothing, that's a battle I won't fight.  I've learned that the kid grows out of it on their own, it's not a biggie.  So, with my son, I am no different.  If he wants to wear a shirt like "pants," I'm okay with that (although we never went anywhere except to Sarah B.'s house and all day we called him, "Hagan Grey Shirt Pants.")

I'm also okay with him wearing a beanie and dino socks on his hands when it's 90 degrees out (oh come on, he'll take them off when he's hot...besides, that's all he was wearing except his undies).

He got lots of attention in the airports with his Thor helmet (that he wore continuously).

He actually did a great job of picking out his outfit for Easter.  See, letting them express themselves does help them develop their own style.  (Tie shirt made by Sarah B.  It's his "fancy" shirt :))

HOWEVER, some days he takes the costumes a little too far....like acting out actions and becoming the character....I was in the driveway leaving for Publix when my oldest daughter and Spiderman ran out of the house wanting to come with me.  Sure!  Got to Publix, went to take off the costume....no clothes underneath.  *SIGH*  Oh well, at least this time I remembered to put shoes on (myself..I do that A LOT..get halfway somewhere and realize I forgot my shoes!).  At least he wasn't in his underwear and he had shoes on too....so

He had a great time in Publix acting out his Spiderman adventures....I think everyone knows us, or I mean, HIM, by now.  Hey, at least he saved the french fries, they were in dire need of assistance, you know being placed by the hoodlum tater tots.  Again, *SIGH*  He's only little once...right?!?!

Quick project so I could remove the Easter wreath I had on the front door.  I had envisioned something else, but since I have no patience and refused to leave the house today, I had to work with what I had on hand.  A wreath from the Dollar Tree, scrapbook paper, twine and  garden markers from Target (love them for EVERYTHING and they were only a buck!).

I actually painted the polka dots on with a pencil eraser and vanilla paint.  THAT'S how bad I didn't want to leave the house!

Painted the wreath quickly with mustard colored paint.  Didn't like it with the paper, so I went over it just as quickly, with the vanilla paint.  The finished wreath:

And of course, my trusty Gnome keeps watch of the front door for me (also a dollar at Target, can you believe it???)

So, I guess with the Gnome watching the front, the beastly dog, Bosco, guarding the back, and Spiderman/DinoBoy/HaganGreyShirtPants protecting frozen vegetables, all is well in MY world!

I'm linking up to these parties:
Funky Junk Interiors
Be Different...Act Normal
It's a Crafty Life
Shanty2Chic
I {Heart} Naptime Sundae Scoop



Thanks for stopping by and have a great Saturday evening!

Libby :)